Stackable satellites and method of stacking same

Abstract

A stackable satellite includes a satellite frame and at least one vertical pillar attached to the frame. The vertical pillar has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is coupled to the lower end of the vertical pillar of the satellite above and the lower end is coupled to the upper end of the vertical pillar of the satellite below. The vertical pillar receives substantially all of the vertical load of the stackable satellite and any other satellites stacked above. Use of such vertical pillars removes the need for a dispenser or substantially lightens the dispenser mass to allow substantially more satellites to be carried in a payload.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stackable satellite comprising:
 a frame; and 
 at least one vertical pillar attached to the frame and having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end adapted to be coupled to a lower end of a vertical pillar of an upper stackable satellite and the lower end adapted to be coupled to an upper end of a vertical pillar of a lower stackable satellite, wherein the vertical pillar receives substantially all of a vertical load of the stackable satellite and the upper stackable satellite. 
 
     
     
       2. The stackable satellite of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical pillar includes at least three vertical pillars spaced from each other and the at least three vertical pillars receive substantially all of the vertical load of the stackable satellite and all upper stackable satellites. 
     
     
       3. The stackable satellite of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame includes at least four corners; 
 the at least one vertical pillar includes at least four vertical pillars positioned at a respective one of the four corners; and 
 the at least four vertical pillars receive substantially all of the vertical load of the stackable satellite and all upper stackable satellites. 
 
     
     
       4. The stackable satellite of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shear tie that attaches the vertical pillar to the frame. 
     
     
       5. The stackable satellite of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the frame includes an upper section and a lower section; and 
 the shear tie includes an upper fastener that fastens the vertical pillar to the upper section of the frame and a lower fastener that fastens the vertical pillar to the lower section of the frame. 
 
     
     
       6. The stackable satellite of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical pillar of the stackable satellite is coupled to the vertical pillars of the upper and lower satellites such that the only contact between vertically adjacent satellites is through the vertical pillar. 
     
     
       7. The stackable satellite of  claim 1 , wherein one of the two ends of the vertical pillar has a protruding portion and the other end of the vertical pillar has a recess shaped to receive the protruding portion of the one end. 
     
     
       8. A stackable satellite system comprising:
 a plurality of stackable satellites, each satellite having:
 a frame for supporting a plurality of satellite components; 
 at least three vertical pillars attached to the frame, each vertical pillar having an upper end adapted to couple to and support the lower end of a respective vertical pillar of an upper stackable satellite and a lower end adapted to be coupled to and supported by the upper end of a respective vertical pillar of a lower stackable satellite, wherein the vertical pillar receives substantially all of a vertical load of the each satellite and all upper stackable satellites. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The stackable satellite system of  claim 8 , wherein the only contact between vertically adjacent satellites is through the vertical pillars. 
     
     
       10. The stackable satellite system of  claim 8 , further comprising a satellite fastener adapted to fasten the stackable satellites to a launch vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The stackable satellite system of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener includes a lid positioned above the uppermost one of the stackable satellites and applies downward pressure to the upper end of the vertical pillars of the uppermost satellite. 
     
     
       12. The stackable satellite system of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener further includes a shaft having a lower end attached to the launch vehicle and an upper end attached to the lid. 
     
     
       13. The stackable satellite system of  claim 11 , wherein there are V vertical levels of the stackable satellites that are stackable on top of each other and H number of horizontally arranged stackable satellites to provide a V by H number of satellites in a payload, wherein H is at least two. 
     
     
       14. The stackable satellite system of  claim 13 , wherein the lid includes a plurality of struts each having a distal end adapted to couple to a respective upper end of the vertical pillar of the uppermost satellite to apply downward pressure thereto. 
     
     
       15. A method of preparing a payload containing a plurality of stackable satellites comprising:
 vertically stacking a plurality of stackable satellites, each stackable satellite having
 a frame; 
 at least one vertical pillar attached to the frame, and having an upper end and a lower end; and 
 wherein the lower end of the vertical pillar of the each satellite is coupled to an upper end of the vertical pillar of a stackable satellite below the each satellite and the upper end of the vertical pillar of the each satellite is coupled to the lower end of the vertical pillar of a stackable satellite above the each satellite, the vertical pillar of the each satellite receiving substantially all of the vertical load of the each satellite and any other stackable satellite stacked above the each satellite; and 
 
 fastening the stacked satellites to a launch vehicle to apply downward pressure through the vertical pillars of the stacked satellites. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of stacking includes stacking the stackable satellites such that the only contact between vertically adjacent satellites is through the vertical pillar. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of fastening includes:
 placing a lid above a top one of the stackable satellites; and 
 applying downward pressure to the upper end of the vertical pillar of the top satellite. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of fastening further includes attaching a lower end of a shaft to the launch vehicle and attaching an upper end to the lid. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein there are V vertical levels of the stackable satellites that are stacked on top of each other, the method further comprising:
 positioning H number of stackable satellites horizontally for each vertical level so as to provide a V by H number of satellites in the payload, wherein H is at least two. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein each satellite has at least three vertical pillars, the method further comprising placing a lid above top horizontally arranged satellites, the lid having a plurality of struts each having a distal end adapted to couple to a respective upper end of the vertical pillars of the top horizontally arranged satellites to apply downward pressure thereto.